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A Tribunal found a Western Australian pharmacist’s behaviour constituted professional misconduct and reprimanded him after he was convicted of unlawfully importing over 2,000 ice-pipes.

In 2014, Mr Nguyen imported a total of 2,001 ice-pipes into Australia from China and India. As a result, he was charged with three counts of unlawfully importing prohibited imports, contrary to the Customs Act 1901 (Cth). At the time of the offences Mr Nguyen was a registered pharmacist, the director of a company that owned and managed a smoke and accessories store, and the pharmacist at, and owner of, a pharmacy.

In 2016, Mr Nguyen was convicted of the charges in the Magistrates Court of WA and ordered to pay a $60,000 fine.

Based on Mr Nguyen’s conduct, the Pharmacy Board of Australia (Board) referred the matter to the State Administrative Tribunal of Western Australia (Tribunal).

The Board and Mr Nguyen agreed the terms on which the matter could be settled. Mr Nguyen admitted that his conduct constituted professional misconduct and was reprimanded and disqualified from re-applying for registration as a pharmacist for six months. Mr Nguyen was also ordered to pay $1,000 towards the Board’s costs of the Tribunal proceedings.

The Tribunal orders record that Mr Nguyen admitted responsibility for his conduct and was remorseful and contrite. The orders also record that Mr Nguyen cooperated with the Board throughout its investigation.